Diocese seeks sainthood for Boys Town founder

Monday

Feb 27, 2012 at 12:01 AMFeb 27, 2012 at 11:16 AM

OMAHA, NEB. -- The Omaha Archdiocese is launching a campaign for sainthood for the Rev. Edward J. Flanagan, the Catholic priest who founded Boys Town and whose story was immortalized in an award-winning movie.

OMAHA, NEB.-- The Omaha Archdiocese is launching a campaign for sainthood for the Rev. Edward J. Flanagan, the Catholic priest who founded Boys Town and whose story was immortalized in an award-winning movie.

Flanagan dedicated much of his life to ministering to orphans and troubled youth, and is remembered for establishing Father Flanagan’s Boys Home in 1917.

The archdiocese will open the canonization process — which is often lengthy — with a March 17 prayer service at Boys Town’s Immaculate Conception Church.

Flanagan, who died in 1948, was known for believing that every child could be a productive citizen if given love, a home, an education and a trade, and accepted boys of every race and creed.

His story was told in the 1938 film Boys Town, starring Spencer Tracy, who won a best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Flanagan.

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